Good advice for anyone starting out in a life on the international circuit (or having to advise someone on the same!).
I'd add a) never hesitate to reach out for advice for older types who seem to you to be the kind of person you want to be in 40 years’ time and b) consider spending a year or two in an international hub first to get a better idea of where exactly might suit you best to go to learn the ropes and c) a few years initial training with a government institution could empower you (if you can get it). It does help to come from somewhere specific, even if mainly in other people's eyes, and have a proper network there.
But I agree with Carne Ross on the fundamentals - learn the language/s and embed yourself somewhere new, especially a place that you can truly be helpful on the bridge between cultures & powers.
Thanks Hugh. Honoured to have this endorsement. I've always been an admirer of your analyses and writing. Indeed, I'd love to talk to you about Turkey some time.
I really enjoyed this post, thank you for sharing your experiences. I will share this with my eldest daughter (16) for various reasons, but mainly as she and I have been talking about "careers" of late and much of what you say about reframing the career paradigm I think is important to try and discuss with young people. One reflection I have that your piece churned up, was a gut feeling I had, when I first started working, about sticking with the non-profit sector. I'd worked as a teacher also in Uganda, was then a sales guy for a corporate, then in the cabinet office as a private secretary and was invited to "fast track". I took a role instead with a disability org in London and never looked back from situating my experiences in the non-profit world 25 years on. It just 'felt' (I realise now) like the right fit for me. I've since worked to influence the private sector, and understand more the machinations of public sector financing and services, but I've stayed quite rooted in non-profit world. I've been based in Vietnam for 14 years and travelled a lot and never been on a single training course (bar a hostile environment one in Kenya which was terrific) but it seems to me that this formula has meant I have learnt by doing, and it feels like a rich patchwork of things I've seen and understood along the way. Perhaps, sometimes, you can and should rely on your 'feeling' about a certain thing - and that thing can be a significant thing - to make the final decision about how much time you are going to spend doing a, b, c in x, y, z context etc? I think then it's OK to do this, to go with your gut, and as you say, simply to just give something a go.
I will circulate, it contradicts my advice that nepotism is the best way to get a job in this sector. But if uncle Carne won't do it! You should mention that in 1996 you found yourself having to badly defend the 'international community' at a conference in Oxford confronted by Palestinian refugees.
Hugely useful, introspective, and insightful. Thank you.
I would add one thing to this - to try to be resilient and optimistic.
I remember receiving a surprisingly terse response from an experienced UK diplomat (an "older type" role model which Hugo refers to) when I sought advice at an early stage of my career. Despite having much of the experience Carne mentions (languages, UN, field experience etc), he advised me "Don't waste my time. Come to me for advice only when you have actual diplomatic experience."
Perhaps I caught him at the wrong time, or he was the wrong person to ask. But the response stuck with me and made me rethink my assumptions. It helped me realise that there is no one clear pathway, and that even when you are dismissed / discouraged by role models, inner resilience and optimism can be your best friends.
Now, 15 / 20 years later, when I in turn am asked for career advice, I also remember the importance of being gracious, kind, and respectful.
This is a great advice piece. I wanted to go into the diplomatic service when I was younger but I was put off by the phrase "represent British interests abroad," which never sat well with me. Knowing the damage British interests had caused globally (and the lack of acknowledgement of this) in combination with my mixed race heritage was enough to move me in a different direction.
Learning languages and living abroad are invaluable opportunities. It does take considerable access and financial backing which many young people will struggle with.
I recommend going to your local religious buildings and learning about what a religion truly stands for and values. Religion is often a contentious topic, but many countries (the UK and USA included) have built their laws, societies and work patterns around a religion. It will give you an insight into how other parts of the world think, plus expose you wonderful, interesting people and perspectives you would never have come across otherwise.
Thanks for your honesty, and in all honesty, all this should be taught in all schools, but of course the controllers would not allow that to happen as their neatly packaged agendas need compliance not dissent.
The only way is by social revolution, the harmony of humanity with the universal laws of nature also not taught.
This piece is great in many ways, but of course I'll focus on the negatives :-)
There's a general tone that working as a diplomat for a government or international organization is corrupting, morally compromising, and unsatisfying.
But this is an error. Virtually all work in the international relations space is corrupting, compromising, and unsatisfying from the standpoint of a young person with an outside or academic perspective.
It can be wonderful to be at the very tip of the spear and personally deliver food, medical care, or life-changing training. But if you have anything approaching a career than most of your time will not be spent at the tip of the spear, and working anywhere else along its length will demonstrate ad nauseam how much time, money, effort, and goodwill are wasted along the path to deliver that little dollop of assistance or action that actually changes lives.
There are two ways to react to this. One is to condemn the corruption, compromise, and dissatisfaction, and walk away. Don't work for a government or a big NGO because their actions are not pure. This is a valid choice.
But the other way to look at this is try to lower your own expectations. Few people have the luxury of a career that is consistently pure and decent. Certainly not in the private sector. So if you want a life in the international relations sector then just be the frog that jumps from lily pad to lily pad.
Do your best research to choose lily pads that will offer satisfying and meaningful work. But recognize you will get this wrong, and at the end of the day a lily pad is just a lily pad, and you can always jump to another one, quickly if you have to.
This is an obvious attempt and something Zen like. But if happiness is your goal you'll do better thinking of yourself as one frog out of many than as a crusading diplomat or administrator who's committed to changing lives. Going down that high and lofty road will lead you to more disappointment and failure than you'd otherwise see if you kept your eyes focused on the ground right in front of you.
Good advice for anyone starting out in a life on the international circuit (or having to advise someone on the same!).
I'd add a) never hesitate to reach out for advice for older types who seem to you to be the kind of person you want to be in 40 years’ time and b) consider spending a year or two in an international hub first to get a better idea of where exactly might suit you best to go to learn the ropes and c) a few years initial training with a government institution could empower you (if you can get it). It does help to come from somewhere specific, even if mainly in other people's eyes, and have a proper network there.
But I agree with Carne Ross on the fundamentals - learn the language/s and embed yourself somewhere new, especially a place that you can truly be helpful on the bridge between cultures & powers.
Thanks Hugh. Honoured to have this endorsement. I've always been an admirer of your analyses and writing. Indeed, I'd love to talk to you about Turkey some time.
Thanks! Am not up on. the latest cut-and-thrust in Turkey though, unless life in the last several years in the Turkish quarter of Brussels counts …
and good advice too!
I really enjoyed this post, thank you for sharing your experiences. I will share this with my eldest daughter (16) for various reasons, but mainly as she and I have been talking about "careers" of late and much of what you say about reframing the career paradigm I think is important to try and discuss with young people. One reflection I have that your piece churned up, was a gut feeling I had, when I first started working, about sticking with the non-profit sector. I'd worked as a teacher also in Uganda, was then a sales guy for a corporate, then in the cabinet office as a private secretary and was invited to "fast track". I took a role instead with a disability org in London and never looked back from situating my experiences in the non-profit world 25 years on. It just 'felt' (I realise now) like the right fit for me. I've since worked to influence the private sector, and understand more the machinations of public sector financing and services, but I've stayed quite rooted in non-profit world. I've been based in Vietnam for 14 years and travelled a lot and never been on a single training course (bar a hostile environment one in Kenya which was terrific) but it seems to me that this formula has meant I have learnt by doing, and it feels like a rich patchwork of things I've seen and understood along the way. Perhaps, sometimes, you can and should rely on your 'feeling' about a certain thing - and that thing can be a significant thing - to make the final decision about how much time you are going to spend doing a, b, c in x, y, z context etc? I think then it's OK to do this, to go with your gut, and as you say, simply to just give something a go.
Thanks Tim for the great comment. I am wholeheartedly in agreement.
I will circulate, it contradicts my advice that nepotism is the best way to get a job in this sector. But if uncle Carne won't do it! You should mention that in 1996 you found yourself having to badly defend the 'international community' at a conference in Oxford confronted by Palestinian refugees.
I have no doubt I defended the 'international community' badly. I had forgotten that occasion. Thank you for reminding me.
Hugely useful, introspective, and insightful. Thank you.
I would add one thing to this - to try to be resilient and optimistic.
I remember receiving a surprisingly terse response from an experienced UK diplomat (an "older type" role model which Hugo refers to) when I sought advice at an early stage of my career. Despite having much of the experience Carne mentions (languages, UN, field experience etc), he advised me "Don't waste my time. Come to me for advice only when you have actual diplomatic experience."
Perhaps I caught him at the wrong time, or he was the wrong person to ask. But the response stuck with me and made me rethink my assumptions. It helped me realise that there is no one clear pathway, and that even when you are dismissed / discouraged by role models, inner resilience and optimism can be your best friends.
Now, 15 / 20 years later, when I in turn am asked for career advice, I also remember the importance of being gracious, kind, and respectful.
Thanks Ryan. That's great. The diplomat you consulted sounds like a total arsehole. Sorry you had that experience.
This is a great advice piece. I wanted to go into the diplomatic service when I was younger but I was put off by the phrase "represent British interests abroad," which never sat well with me. Knowing the damage British interests had caused globally (and the lack of acknowledgement of this) in combination with my mixed race heritage was enough to move me in a different direction.
Learning languages and living abroad are invaluable opportunities. It does take considerable access and financial backing which many young people will struggle with.
I recommend going to your local religious buildings and learning about what a religion truly stands for and values. Religion is often a contentious topic, but many countries (the UK and USA included) have built their laws, societies and work patterns around a religion. It will give you an insight into how other parts of the world think, plus expose you wonderful, interesting people and perspectives you would never have come across otherwise.
Terrific. Thanks!
Thanks for your honesty, and in all honesty, all this should be taught in all schools, but of course the controllers would not allow that to happen as their neatly packaged agendas need compliance not dissent.
The only way is by social revolution, the harmony of humanity with the universal laws of nature also not taught.
As (mostly) usual Robin, we agree.
This piece is great in many ways, but of course I'll focus on the negatives :-)
There's a general tone that working as a diplomat for a government or international organization is corrupting, morally compromising, and unsatisfying.
But this is an error. Virtually all work in the international relations space is corrupting, compromising, and unsatisfying from the standpoint of a young person with an outside or academic perspective.
It can be wonderful to be at the very tip of the spear and personally deliver food, medical care, or life-changing training. But if you have anything approaching a career than most of your time will not be spent at the tip of the spear, and working anywhere else along its length will demonstrate ad nauseam how much time, money, effort, and goodwill are wasted along the path to deliver that little dollop of assistance or action that actually changes lives.
There are two ways to react to this. One is to condemn the corruption, compromise, and dissatisfaction, and walk away. Don't work for a government or a big NGO because their actions are not pure. This is a valid choice.
But the other way to look at this is try to lower your own expectations. Few people have the luxury of a career that is consistently pure and decent. Certainly not in the private sector. So if you want a life in the international relations sector then just be the frog that jumps from lily pad to lily pad.
Do your best research to choose lily pads that will offer satisfying and meaningful work. But recognize you will get this wrong, and at the end of the day a lily pad is just a lily pad, and you can always jump to another one, quickly if you have to.
This is an obvious attempt and something Zen like. But if happiness is your goal you'll do better thinking of yourself as one frog out of many than as a crusading diplomat or administrator who's committed to changing lives. Going down that high and lofty road will lead you to more disappointment and failure than you'd otherwise see if you kept your eyes focused on the ground right in front of you.